St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-23

-
ANE y I'M haZard Gus. No
NFk M one should endan-
AMhkfsN I'm ger his life in such
s~ 4AA a way"
W4SE The afternoon
:@A sun shOne warmly
aNNN on Bridge W a tie r
IN cliffs. The soft
murmur of the sea fell family on the
ear. There was peace in the air and
upon the sea.
Mark Hilton's usual clear-headed
Judgment was somewhat disturbed this
afternoon, for was not Kitty McLaugh-
lin with him? 1t was not every day that
he had her all to himself three miles
from human habitation. However he
might strive to conceal, his citation
would show itself in face and speech.
Nature was in opposition with his
mood.
This was no ordinary pair. Mark Hill
ton was twenty-four, handsome-nOt a
pretty man. He was tall and straight,
possessing face of peculiarly interest
Ing cast. His manner, and at times his
speech. exhibited the slight awkward
ness often seen in those who are given
to habits of SecluSiOn. He did not much
affect general society; be was man
with all object in life, and that object
was not mere personal popularity. Mark
Hilton was, i'll the highest sense, a gen.
tleman.
Miss Kate Mclaughlin was nineteen
years of age, tall and well formed. She
had pleasant and intelligent face. PeO-
pie did not consider her beautiful, Mark
Hilton to the contrary notwithstanding.
What most distinguished her was her
remarkable gracefulness of speech and
manne. She was finely educated,
andr, like Hilton, possessed OF a
marked individuality. The young
men who sought her society were
we'll treated, but. with the exception of
Hilton, made slow progress in their eff
forts to acquire her confidence and to
become more intimate. There was a
line they could not cross. They could
never see the reason why. She did.
She knew that even the alchemy of love
could not unite gold and lead without
debasing the former. 1t must be gold
with gold to preserve the standard.
The subject which Mark Hilton and
Kitty Mclaughlin were discussing SO
earnestly was the possibility of safely
reaching a certain tiny blue flower
which grew far out on the rugged face
of the cliff. Kitty had discovered it in
its isolated position few moments be-
fore and, remarking that it was unlike
any they had seen that day, wondered
what it could be. The distance was so
great she could not decide, although
good bOtanist. Mark, with more en-
thuSiaSm than righteousness, volun-
teered to get it for her, proposal she
would not listen to.
"NonSenser' returned Mark. There
is no danger worth mentioning. Don't
you see there is line of shelving rock
jutting out from behind the cliff, which
leads directly to it?''
But you might slip or become dizzy.
It must be hundred feet to the bottom"
she said with shudder.
Slipping is impossible with these
on" said Mark, calling attention to the
rubber-sOled lawn-tennis shoes which he
wore, land my head was always
steady one"
But you shall not imperil your life
in such fOOlhardy attempt" said Kitty
decidedly.
'sOh, yes, l will. You don't know
what determined fellow | am when l
get started" answered Mark with a
laugh; and in a second he was several
feet out on the face of the crag.
The shelving rock along which he
undertook to make his way was barely
four inches in width. A difficult path
way. There was nothing to cling to eX
cept occasional sharp points which jut-
ted out from the mass of rock.
Slowly and carefully he advances.
Kitty watches him intently, pale and
breathleSS with suspense.
a few steps more and he will reach it.
All! he has it,and holds it up triumph
antly to her view.
She waves her handkerchief, not dar-
ing to speak for fear of startling him.
Now for the return. He starts back
along. the precariouS pathway. He sud
denly stops and hesitates. Why so long?
Is it to rest? No; he is testing portion
of the rock with his foot. Has he be-
come suspicious of his highway? Yes,
and with good reason. A large portion
of the rock is lOOsei lie bears on it
harder, when a sudden roar, followed by
terrible crash, Invertebrates from cliff
to cliff.
A deep silence follows. What has
happened? Has Mark Hilton passed
forever from human eyes? No; there
he is on his narrow pathway, clinging
closely to the ledge. A huge piece of
rock, constituting part of his perilOuS
road. has scaled off, leaving the cliff
nearly as smooth as glass for six or eight
feet i'll his front.
His return is cut off.
The sun has become ObScured by
heavy dark clouds. A wind has arisen.
The sea no longer murmurS softly, but
sends forth a Sullen, OminOuS roar.
How suddenly everything has changed!
Mark Hilton realizes his situation.
He cannot go forward; he cannot go
back, except few feet. Above him the
perpendicular rock rises to the height
of ten feet before the top of the rock is
gained. 1t is smooth, except few
Slight projections here and there. No
mortal could climb it. Mark knows
this and yet he feels that he must try.
He cannot long remain in his present
position.
Were this beautiful day and his life
to end together? Had he brought this
girl-whom he had intended soon to ask
to be his wife-to this lonely. isolated
spot only to witness his exit from the
World?-in which he had hoped to &C
cOmplish so much. The thought of
death, when in close proximity to it, is
dreadful thing, especially to young
person.
Kitty Mclaughlin, when she realized
the catastrophe which had Overtaken
her lover, was so appalled, that she could
neither speak nor move. She stood like
one paralyZed until the voice of Mark,
calling to her not to be alarmed brought
her back to the world of reason.
Kitty was not one to remain long in
active if there was anything she could
do. Coming to the top of the cliff, above
his head, she cried:
"Oh, Markr' There was no "Mr. Hill
tom now. On the verge of death as he
was, Mark noted this with thrill of
pleasure. "Can you hold on till | can
get assistance?"
Mark made rapid calculation. Three
miles to the nearest house and the
toughest possible path. 1t would take at
least an hour for help to reach him. Too
well he knew he could not retain his
hold for half that time. He was already
much exhausted and becoming dizzy. 1t
required great effort to keep from fall